Directions: From Auburn, head south on either 38 or 38A to Moravia, where they connect. Just to the east of Moravia is Indian Mound Cemetery. Enter the cemetery. It is your access point for Mill Creek. Head towards Section 9 and park on the right side of the road just past the SEC 9 sign.

Parking: Park in the back of either St Patrick’s or Indian Mound Cemeteries. Section 9 of Indian Mound (on the right side of the road, just past the sign) is reportedly a good access point.

Information / Accessibility / Accommodations

Note

Previous access was from a property near the old mill downstream off of Rt 38. NYFalls.com members have reported that landowners here have denied permission to property along the creek here. We are unable to verify the validity of their claim, but to be safe and respectful use the alternate access point described below (through the cemeteries).

Number of falls: 2

Size/Types: 9 ft and 6 ft cascades, one right after the other.

Best time to visit: Spring or fall. After heavy rain.

Flow: Moderate/low.

Waterway: Decker Creek, which combines with Dresserville Creek to become Mill Creek. Mill Creek then joins Hemlock Creek, which is the inlet to Owasco Lake.

Time: 40 minutes to an hour.

Seasons/Hours: Whenever you can get access, which as of Spring 2010, is when the cemetery is open. We do not have the cemetery hours at this time.

Admission: No fees.

Handicap accessibility: No.

Pets: We are not sure.

Accommodations: None.

Contact Information

Description

The combination hike of these Mill Creek tributaries will get you close to these two falls – Decker Creek Falls and the massive 75 ft Montville Falls (if it is flowing at the time). Check out the Montville Falls page for more details on that part of the hike.

Considered public watershed, the accessible Decker Creek Falls, two small limestone cascades, are a nice treat in this rarely-accessed slice of wilderness. The falls, one 9 ft and the other 6, are right next to each other and surrounded by thick, peaceful forest. The limestone bedrock here evens out the boulder-spotted creek bed and gives the waterfalls a step-like structure. The falls are of decent size and sometimes flowing even if neighboring Montville Falls isn’t. The natural setting in the small gorge is nice as a distraction if you are in the area, and certainly worth it if you are here to see the larger Montville Falls, but they are certainly not worth going out of your way for.

Upstream from these two falls are numerous other drops, but they are reportedly all on private property. If you see a POSTED sign, turn around.

Decker Creek Falls Videos

None yet.

Hiking / Walking Trails

From a back section of the cemetery, head towards the creek. The gorge can be steep here, but walk along and see where you can get down safely. Reportedly in Section 9 of Indian Mound Cemetery, near the large C.A. PARKER tombstone is a good area to scramble down. Once in the gorge, head upstream. There are not many defined paths, so plan on getting your feet wet. In fact, if you aren’t getting wet on this hike, then chances are the waterfalls will be dry when you get there.

Less than a quarter-mile upstream you will reach a fork. To the right, Dresserville Creek and Montville Falls, to the left is Decker Creek Falls. Hike left for 900 feet or so to get there.

Decker Creek & Moravia Falls Interactive Map

Drag the map or click the arrows to move around and use the +/- to zoom in or out. Click on the icons for more information. This map is not accurate. Caution and common sense should be used when hiking.

History

Near where Montville Falls is located, along Mill Creek, a man named Jethro Woods invented the first cast iron plow in 1819, drastically increasing the productivity of farmers and the reliability of their equipment. Unfortunately for Woods, he had to fight patent infringements his whole life and died a poor man. Montville was once a large manufacturing center, using the power of Mill Creek to build numerous factories along its banks. It rivaled the village of Moravia for dominance until the mills began to close along the creek as electric power ushered in modern industry.

Interesting Stuff

The cemeteries

If you have the time, explore and photograph the cemeteries, Indian Mound and St. Patricks, which have grave stones dating back to 1817.

Located south of the village, this state park features a massive gorge with several waterfalls.

Photography Tips

Use caution

The rocks can get quite slippery in the creek. Use water shoes with a good grip and use a walking stick or your tripod to keep balance.

Keep your camera well-protected. Seal it in a waterproof bag when you are hiking in high water levels.

The creek

Don’t just photograph the falls. The many twists and turns in the creek flow, with the large boulders make for interesting shots.

Overcast skies

Daylight will cast uneven shadows and the late sun will leave it in the shade. It is best to wait for an overcast sky for this one.

Silky water effect

To get that smooth cotton-candy look to the falls, you need to use a Neutral Density (ND) filter on your lens. The ND filter will block some of the light from entering the lens without altering the color, and thus allow your shutter to stay open longer. This blurs the water and creates a soft white gloss to the foamy areas of the falls. You can pick up a Neutral Density (ND) filter relatively cheap on Amazon.

Cut down on reflections and help reduce the light entering the lens by utilizing a Circular Polarizer filter. Most of the waterfall scenes shown on this website are captured with this type of filter. It reduces glare and helps us obtain more even exposures.You can pick up a Circular Polarizer filter relatively cheap on Amazon.

When shooting slow shutter speeds, a sturdy Tripod is a must. Don’t settle for a cheap tripod that wobbles in the wind or can be vibrated by water currents. Amazon has a nice selection of quality Tripods.

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